Karanka takes it game by game

The Teessiders head into Saturday's Sky Bet Championship trip to Sheffield Wednesday sitting second in the table and in the best shape yet to secure a return to the top flight following relegation in 2009.

Boro suffered a shock home defeat by Leeds last weekend, while rivals Bournemouth went down 2-1 at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening, and Karanka knows there will be further twists and turns before the final placings are decided.

Karanka told the club's official website: "Everyone is going to lose points because we all know how difficult this league is.

"Now we have to think about ourselves because we have to win our games and if we do that, we'll be at the top.

"I don't want to think about what is going to happen in a few months' time. I will concentrate on the Sheffield game first, Millwall after that and then Nottingham Forest."